Railroad track construction



Filed March 14, 1931 5 SheetS-Sheet l 1 NNI NNI

A. A n 1 v f f.. A iff...

March l5, 1932. G. B. TAYLoR 1,849,969

RAILROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,T f 7777 l ..5

G. B. TAYLOR RAILROAD TRACK CONSTRUCTION Mrch 145, 1932.

Filed March 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 15, 1932 RAILROAD TRACK ooNsTrtUCTIoN Application led March 14, 1931. Serial No. 522,651.

rhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in railway track construction and more particularly to means for securing the track rails to the ltrack bed.

One obj ect of the invent-ion is to provide a railway track construction which is readily adaptable to both standard steam and electric railways, 'and also street railways wherein the upper surface of the rails is substantially level with the surface of the street.A

Another object of the invention is to pro-py vide a railway construction having novel neans for securing the track rails to the track Another object of the invention is to provide a railway trackV construction having novel means for releasably securing the track rails to the track bed, said means being positioned to permit lateral gauge adjustment `of the rails subsequent to the laying thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway track construction having novel means for insulatingthe track rails from the track bed.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a railway track construction having means for locking the track securing elements thereby preventing the track rails from becoming loosened.

A further obfect of the invention is to provide a railway track construction having means for securingthe rails to the rail bed in such manner asto prevent longitudinal movement of the rail` with respect to the rail supports and commonly known as creeping.

The invention further resides in certain structural details set forth hereinafter and shownA in the accompanying. drawings, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary sectional viewA showing the construction used in laying railway tracks embodying my invention;

2 is a side elevation showing the construction of the anchor members used to se'- cure the track rails to the track bed;

Fig. Sis a' side viewsho-wing the construction of theinsulating wedgeand locking device to be used in conjunction with the anchor members for securing track rails to the track bed l Fig. 4; is an end elevation of the wedge member shown in Fig. 3.; i

Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe member normally disposed intermediate a wedgeand the track rail andeng'aging the base thereof;

6 is an end elevation showing the err` gaging member shownv in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of 'a' railwayl track adapted for street railways, wherein the up- .per surfaceof the track rail isV substantially level with the surface of thestreet;-

Fig. Sis a side elevation of the wedge member having the engaging member formed in# tegrally therewith; i j V Fig. 9 is anendelevation ofthe disclosure in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the track shown in Fig. 1. n

Referring to the drawings, the anchor members lareembedded in a concrete foundation 2, preferably prior to the positioning of the track rails, the said anchor members 1 in thev present instance having their end portions formed to converge toward the track rail as shown in Fig. `1 of the drawings In the present instance the plane -of the inner face of the upper converging `portion offthe anchors 1 is formed at an angle `with respect to both the, longitudinal axis of the .track rail 3 and the horizontal surface of the track bed. The said inner face of the converging portion of each of a pair of oppositelydisposed anchor members l is disposed at an opposite equal angle to that of the other face of the opposite vanchor element, thus permitting the retaining members tobe driven from opposite sides vof each of a pair of oppositely disposed anchors. p y Subsequent to the embedding of the anchor.` members l. a continuous member 4 of wood or other suitable material is disposed intermediate the anchor members l and parallel with respectto the longitudinal aXis'of the trackrail '3, the upper surface ofthe concrete l track bed beneath member 4 havingprevi` Vously been formed by suitable meansy'tof a reasonably true surface for the placementV of said'member 4. The track rails 3 are then positioned on the member 4 intermediate the ioo oppositely disposed or staggered anchor elements 1.

For the purpose of securing the track rails to the track bed, I provide engaging elements 6 having a cutout portion 7 formed therein as shown in Fig. 6 and adapted to engage the outer edges of the track rail 3 when disposed adjacent each of the anchor members l. A second cutout portion 8 is formed in the outer face of the engaging member 6, the purpose of whichwill bef-set forth hereinafter.

For the purpose of rigidly securing the engaging members 6 to the basel ofthek track rail, thereby holding it securely in position, I provide suitable wedge members9 shown in Figs. 3 anda of the drawings, the ysaid wedge members 9 being disposed intermediate the inner face of the upper portion of the anchor members l and the upper face of the engagingmembers 6. In the present instance the edges of the lower face ofthe wedge members 9, normally abutting `the upper face of the engaging members 6 are beveled as shown at 10 in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, to perf mit that portion of the wedge to normally reside in the cutout portion 8 formed in the upper face of the engaging members 6, when the said wedgemembers 9 are entirely inposition, and thus afford a substantial means of preventing the wedge members 9 from becoming separated from theengaging members 6.

As a means for further securing the wedge members in position when the said members have been finally secured I provide a strip of steel 1l which is normally disposed intermediate theupper face of the wedge 9 and the inner face of the anchor member l; and to lock the wedge securely in position it is merely necessary to form one end of the strip 1l over the side of the anchor member l, the other end of the saidv strip l1 being bent over the end of the' wedge 9, as shown in F ig. Y

In the present construction,.I prefer to embed the anchor membersl in the concretev foundation prior to the..,positioning of the track rail 3 and 'it is obvious that the anchor members 1 may be of any suitable 'form providing that the upper inner face thereof is disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the track rails and alsoV at an anglewithrespectto.the surface of the track bed. The use of the wedges disposed as they `are in the present case, permit of the lateral adjustment of the rail to the desired gauge, by first driving one or the other of the opposing wedges. l

In the vcase ,of open track en railways where it becomes' necessary `tol provide 4for electric circuits Ywhich requirerthe insulation of the rail from thesupporting structurer and the y anchor` members, the wedge members 9 are composedV of insulating material, such as Vwood, hard rubber or other suitable insulating material. In such cases the supporting member 4 is likewise wood or other suitable insulating material and it is even desirable to place a layer of insulating mastic, designated as l2 in Fig. l, on the upper surface of the concrete and extending from 'the edge of the supporting member l to the outer line of the anchor members l disposed adjacent each side of the rail; the combination of the insulating mastic, the supporting member 4; and the wedge portions 9 effectively insulating the rail from the anchor mem- `bers 1 andthe concrete base.

In the case of track construction shown in Fig. 7 and particularly adapted` for use in street railways, wherein the surface of the street pavement is normally iiush with the level of the track rails,.and whereinthe in sulation of the track rails' from ythe .anchor members and the concrete base is not required,

it is preferable toV form the wedge 4member and the engaging member of metal andas an integral unit designated as-9l and shown in Figs. S and 9 of the drawings. In this type of construction the track rails are secured to the road foundation in a manner similar to that set forth above' and in addi-y tion a further application of concrete l (see Fig. 7) is disposed about the upper portion of the anchor members and about the wedges to a suitable height thereabove, the customary road surfacing material l5 being subsequently placed thereon to a height substantially level with the upper surface of the track rail. n

It will be apparent that vthe `unit wedge and engaging member 9a may be used in thev having the upper inner face thereof disposedl at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the track rail and at an angle to the plane of the surface of the road bed, and wedge members disposed intermediate and abutting the inner faceV of the anchorl lmembers andthe base .of the track rail for holding the saidv rail firmly in position.

2. Infra railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to a'track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members each having the upper inner Aface thereof disposed in a manner such that the intersection of the plane of the said face withvthe lonacute angle, and wedge members ydisposed gitudinal aXis of the track rail formsV an intermediate and abutting said face and the base of the track rail for holding the said rail securely in position.

3. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to the track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members each having the upper inner face thereof disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the track rail, engaging members for gripping the edges of the base of the track rail, and wedge members disposed intermediate the said inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members for holding the track rail securely in position.

1. In a railway track construction, means for securingthe track rails to the track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members each having the upper face thereof disposedl at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the track rail and to the plane of the surface of the track bed, engaging members for grip-V ping the edge of the base of the track, and wedge members disposed intermediate the said inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members for holding the track rails securely in position.

5. In a railway track construction, means for ecuring the track rails to the track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members disposed adjacent each side of the rail and each having the upper inner face thereof disposed in such a manner that the intersection of the plane of said inner face with the longitudinal axis of the rail forms an acute angle, engaging members for gripping the edge of the base of the track, and wedge members disposed intermediate the inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members for holding the track rails securely -r in position.

6. In a railway track construction, means for securing track rails to a track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members, eachV having the upper inner face thereof disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the track rails, wedge members disposed inter-Y mediate the said inner face of the anchor members and the base of the track rail for holdingr said track rail securely in position, and engaging strips for lockingv the said wedge members in the holding position.

7. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to a track bed comprising a pluralityof anchor members each having the upper inner face thereof disposed in a manner such thatrthe intersection of the plane of the said face with the longitudinal axis of the track rail forms an acute angle, wedge members disposed intermediate and abutting said face and the base of the track rail for holding the said rail securely in position, and means for locking the said wedge members in the holding position.

8. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to the track bed bers in the holding position.

comprising aplurality of anchor members `Vdisposed: adjacent each side ofthe rail and each having the upper 'inner `face thereof disposed in such a manner that the intersection of the plane of said inner face with the longitudinal axis of the rail forms an acute angle,

.engaging members for gripping the edge of the base of the track, wedge members disposed intermediate the inner-face of the an- -chor members and the engaging members for spaced relation adjacent each side of the track rail, the said anchor members having their upper ends. converging toward said rail and 'the inner face of said converging portion disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rail, engaging members for gripping so y the ed O'e of the base of the track, and wedge p Y members disposed intermediate the inner '90 face of the anchor members. and the engaging members for holding the track rail securef ly in position.

10. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track railsto the track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members embedded in said track bed and disposed in spaced relation adjacent each side of the track rail, the said anchor members each having the upper end thereof converging toward the track rail and the inner face of said converging portion disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the said rail, engaging members for gripping the edge ofthe base of the rail, and disposed at the base of the rail opposite the anchor members, and wedge members intermediate the inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members `for holding the track rails securely in position, the said wedge members being composed of insulating material.

l1. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to the track bed comprising a. plurality of anchor members embedded in said track bed and disposed in spaced relation adjacent each side of the track rail, the said anchor members having their upper ends converging toward said rail and the inner face of said converging portion disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rail, engaging members for gripping'l the edge of the base of the track, wedge members disposed intermediate the inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members for holding the track rail securely in position, and means for locking the wedge in the holding position.

l2. In a railway track construction, means for securing the track rails to the track bed comprising a plurality of anchor members lio l ing the Wedge in the holding position.

-embedded in said track bed and disposed in v spaced-relation adjacent each side of the K track rail, the said anchor members each having the upper end thereoil converging toward the track rail'and the inner face of said converging portion disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axisof the said rail, engaging y members for grippingV the edge of the base of the rail and disposed at the base of the rail opposite the anchor members, and Wedge members intermediate the inner face of the anchor members and the engaging members for holding the track rails securely in position, the said Wedge members being composed of insulating material, and means for lock- GEORGE B. TAYLOR.

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